Fluid treating helically advancing threads



Jan. 22, 1952 u s. MAYNER FLUID TREATING HELICALLY ADVANCING THREADS Filed Nov. 20, 1947 m mw\ 5 7 mm on 6m mm .m V 4. mw

- I l lll mm mm n. /..vmn%%m 2 8 $5 mm THOMAS 3 MAYA/ER INVENTOR aqzw ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 22, 1 952 READS Thomas S. Mayner, Chagrin Harbor, Willoughby Township, Lake County, Ohio, assignor to Industrial Rayon Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application November 20, 1947,Serial No. 787,147

2 Claims. (Cl. 8---151.1)

This invention relates to processing thread in a plurality of processing stages. More particularly, the invention relates to a method in which the plurality of stages are individualized so that the mingling of processing fluids is substantially entirely eliminated.

Reels operating on the principle disclosed in the Knebusch Patent No. 2,210,914 are of particular advantage in the continuous process for the manufacture of rayon yarn, thread, etc- Such:

two-member reels however have been utilized for the performance of single processing steps. The length of a two-member reel is somewhat limited due to the fact that the reel comprises two reel members one of which is offset and askew to the other. This arrangement prevents the construction of a lengthy reel whereon a plurality of processing steps can be performed since the bar members of one of the reel members when produced would interfere with the bar members of the other reel member.

A reel adapted for the performance of a plurality of stages and having a length limited only by the number of stages desired advantageously can be constructed by abbreviating the lengths of the eccentric reel members to enable the use of a plurality of such members, and a continuous concentric member. Such a reel will advanta geously advance the thread or the like in the form of a uniform helix from stage to'stage over its entire periphery. On a reel of this type, however, there can occur a mingling of processing fluids, for fluid from a previous stage may be carried by the thread to the next stage thus preventing a clean fluid processing on the succeeding step. It would be advantageous, of course, to substantially rid the thread of a processing fluid prior to a subsequent fluid treatment.

Advantageously during processing the thread turns are spaced closely together so as to enable the processing fluid to blanket the combined thread surface. If then. the fluid blanket is not destroyed at the end of a processing stage a substantial amount of fluid is carried over to the next processing stage. Since it is advantageous to fully blanket the thread turns on a single stage of a multiple stage reel the blanket should be destroyed and the fluid gotten rid of before the thread reaches the next stage. If the surface tension of the fluid blanket can be broken, for instance, by separating the thread turns, the processing fluid will be thrown off. It will'also tend to drop into the reel between the thread bearing members collecting therein to be thrown out as a larger mass by the centrifugal force of the rotating reel. Also, depending upon the distance over which the turns are separated the thread can have. performed on it other desirable treatments.

This invention advantageously provides for a thread ,turn spreading means forming a part of the reel which is adapted to separate the turns of thread after a processing step has been applied to thus destroy the fluid blanket covering the thread. The thread is then forwarded with a minimum of processing fluids to the succeeding stage for a further liquid application. vSuch a means comprises an intermediate abbreviated reel section rotatingabout an axis that causes a separation of thread turns a sufiicient distance to break the surface tension of a fluid blanket covering the thread. This thread transfer section is further advantageously constructed so as to cause a minimum of thread distortion at the points of transfer from the one reel stage to the next.

The degree of thread turn separation is dependent, of course, upon the type of fluid treatment that is being applied to the thread since the thread need be separated only to such an extent so as to break the surface tension of the fluid blanket and not to impede the discarding of the fluid from within the reel members. The thread separating and transfer reel section is generally considerably shorter inlength than the processing stages of the reel inasmuch as its function is primarily to spread a few of the thread turns in order to rid the thread of its fluid and to transfer the thread from one stage to another.

A thread turn separating section can also be advantageously utilized at the receiving or hub portion of a reel, or at the discharge end of a reel. Further, a thread turn spreading section in a reel can be .of particular use on a reel adapted for the drying of yarn or thread.

The reel of this invention is advantageous, further, in that a plurality of separate or individualized processing steps can be performed on the thread while it moves over the reel periphery. The reel may comprise as many as five or six stages on each .of which a fluid treatment can be performedand each such stage individualized by means of a transfer section.

The aforementioned reel is more thoroughly de: scribed in the attached specification and the accompanying drawing where:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a multi-stage reel; Figure 2 is a cross section of the reel; Figure 3 is an end view of the reel of Figure 1; and, Figure 4 is an isometric representation of thereel depicting individualization of the several st es.

Referring to the drawing the reel comprises a .combination of several reel members forming a generally cylindrical device whose periphery is made up of a plurality of longitudinally extending bar members that cooperate to advance thread in a plurality of generally helical turns. One reel member-i ii concentrically mounted about its axis, has bars H of continual length. The bars H are supported at one end by an equal number of- I radially extending supporting members [3' which merge into a hub is that is mounted'on a reel supporting shaft iii. The hub I4 is held fixed to the shaft by means of aset screw H. The

longitudinally extending bar members H at the other end merge into a flange i8 advantageously the sleeve 33 forproperly locating zthe eocentrics.

Of course, instead of the spacer the eccentrics themselves could be extended to abut each other;

The eccentric reel members are maintained on the eccentrics by spring-type retainers 39.

As shown in the drawing the thread spreading transferreel is considerably shorter in length thanreel members 23 and 25 for its function is '"fluid'blanket'covering them and then to cast oil forming a ring that is fastened to a hub member It by means of screws 23. 1 Thehub member 19.

in turn, is concentrically mounted about the shaft i5 on a concentric supporting sleeve 2! having a flanged end 22 through-which the shaft extends.

The flanged portion 22 of the supporting sleeve 2| is adapted to be received by a means provided for it (not shown) inth'e face of a spinning machine-to thus'support the reel from one end only. The thread is generally received at the hub portion of the reel and is advanced in a plurality of helical turns over the reel toward the to "spread the thread turns so as to destroy the the clinging excess fluid; Advantageously the aforesaid can be done over a relatively short distance'and the reel need only be long enough to perform its function. The processing stages are individualized in a definite .manner. Figure 4 shows how thefluid blanket is advantageously restricted to :a definite area. The instant the turns are spread the fluid blanket is destroyed and the fluidis thrown off.

The shaft 15 extends somewhat beyond the supportingsleeve section 2! in order that a driving gear 3!: may be mounted on such extension. Desirablypositioned within the driving gear there is a slip clutch that is adapted-to prevent. an overloading of the reel.. The slip clutch may comprise a sleeve 51 that. is fixed to the shaft. it

on axes that are offset and askew to the axis spreading reel-member .24 are tapered at both the receiving and discharge ends; and bar members 29-'are also tapered-atone end only. Furby a 'setscrew 52. The sleeve M has in one end radially extending spring-backed 'ball bearings 53. The ball bearings 53 are adapted to rest in recesses 54 provided for them in the inner annular surface of the gear 50. ;Thus, when an ther, to "facilitatethe transfer of the thread from I one eccentric reelmember to .the next the surfaces of the contiguous portions of the bar members are alsotapered; the thread will not, then, be subject to sharp edges. -As shown inFigure 2, the axes of the-eccentric reel members 23, 24, and 25 are not only offset and askew to the axis of the reel member H] but they also are positioned so that they intersect. Such an arrangement of the axes advantageously permits the advancement of the thread without any noticeable distortionof the thread helix. Also, such an arrangement permits the construction of a reel having more than the two and three stage exa'mples of the drawing.

The bar members 21 of the eccentric reel member 23 are radially supported by a hub 33 which is adapted to rotate on a sleeve bearing 3| that is positioned about an eccentric '32. The eccentric, in turn, is mounted ona longitudinally extending sleeve 33 in which the reel shaft [5 rotates. In like manner the bar members 28, 29 are supported by hubs 35, 36 rotating about eccentrics 31, 38 fixed on the sleeve 33. The hub members 35 3B are also desirably mounted on anti-friction sleeve bearings 4|, 42.

The eccentrics 32, 31, 38 are desirably fixe against rotation and against lateral displacement by means-of serrations in their'ends. The ecoverload occurs the bearings are compressed permitting a rotation of the gear while the. reelv is either stationary or while it rotates at a lesser speed. s

' The aforesaid reel construction as isometrically shown in Figure 4.individualizes processing steps because of the construction and'eccentricity of the intermediate reel transfer member 25. The member tends to spread the thread turns so as to destroythe fluid blankets .32 that cover them. The various fluids are applied by means of tubes 66 onto three eccentric members23, 25

and 6| where'on the thread is closely spaced to form liquid blankets 62. transfer member 24, as stated, then spreads the The thread spreading threadturns to destroy the fluid blankets. The processing fluids tend to drop within the reel member v24 where they collect to form larger masses. The Lfluid is then'substantially immediately thrown out and the thread enters the next stage substantially entirelyjfree of-the previous 1. The method for processing thread or the like with a fluid a plurality oftimes as the thread continuously advanced in a plurality of generally helical turns consisting, closely spacing the thread turns, applying a processing liquid to said closely spaced turns to form a liquid blanket thereon, individualizing a predetermined plurality of said closely spaced turns by separating said turns to destroy the processing liquid blanket, collecting said liquid to form a mass sufiicient to be thrown out of said helix by centrifugal force, then again closely spacing the thread turns for a subsequent application of a blanket of, processing liquid.

2. The method for processing thread or the like, consisting of forming a helix of liquid wetted thread having a plurality of consecutive turns; advancing said helix in a plurality of Widely spaced thread turns, the turns being I.-

spaced to destroy and to prevent the formation of a coating blanket of the liquid that is carried by the advancing thread helix and to remove the liquid; then advancing said helix in a plurality of closely spaced thread turns spaced so as to support a thin liquid coating blanket; forming a thin coating of fluid treating liquid on the closely 5 spaced thread turns by applying a fluid treating liquid thereto; then removing the applied treat ing liquid by advancing the said helix in a pin rality of widely spaced thread turns.

THOMAS S. MAYNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'IENTS Number Name Date 2,129,274 I-Iartrnann et al. -n- Sept. 6, 1938 2,167,681 Samerdyke Aug. 1, 1939 2,173,001 Jordan Sept. 12, 1939 2,272,233 Walters in Feb. 10, 19 .2 2,416,533 Naumann Feb. 25, 1947 2,513,381 Truitt July 4, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 342,497 Italy Aug. 5, 1936 

